# Accident 19900917039529A: Hughes TH55A, Kingsville, TX, September 17, 1990

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 17, 1990, 08:59 local time
- Place: Kingsville, TX
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Hovering
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 27.5092° N, 97.8610° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Kingsville, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.5092&lon=-97.8610&mi=10
- Aircraft: N403SD, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N403SD-1996-06-21) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Hughes 269A (registry code 4470402, https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-269a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES TH55A
- Reported engine: LYC O360C2D
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Pilot flight hours: 1,000 total, 100 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW90FA183](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW90FA183) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900917039529A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

TAILBOOM SEPARATED IN FLIGHT. ENTERED SPIN AND CRASHED. SADDLE FLANGE FRACTURED. STABILIZER NOT APPROVED CIVIL USE.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB FTW90FA183](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW90FA183), Sep 17, 1990: Hughes 269A (N403SD), Kingsville, TX, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: THE FATIGUE FAILURE OF THE LEFT FLANGE ON THE TAIL BOOM SADDLE FITTING.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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